Violet

Thistle (Chapter 1)

Today –

The blood pinches my skin as it starts to dry on my face. I'm staring at his lifeless body, unaware of how much time has passed since he took his last breath, his last breath that was stolen from him in a moment of anger.

"What did you do Violet", his voice breaks my daze, I feel the warmth of his hand on the flat of my back. I look into his eyes, hoping to feel safe in his familiar presence.

"I – I didn't" The words only just leave my mouth, I feel a tear roll down my cheek, which brings me round to a sudden reality. Why is he asking what I did? This wasn't me.

I open my mouth to speak again, but he quickly brings his finger to my cracked lips. "Ssh, don't worry I'll fix this for you". His voice is steady, unnerved and completely unfazed by what is going on around us. It's making me uneasy, he's too calm, it's almost psychotic.
His hand grips underneath my jaw as he forces my face to turn and look at the crime scene we are standing in, I try to look anywhere else except the body lay on the floor, I look down to my feet and see the fresh blood pooling around my trainers.
The clinical room that always felt so big and almost intimidating, now feels small and claustrophobic.
The irony of wanting to escape from a place that used to be my escape was overwhelming, I need to breath. I need to move, but he won't let me.

Twelve years ago –

"I don't want to go" I shout to Bethany from the bathroom.
Bethany had been talking about this night for the past two weeks, so I knew I wasn't getting out of it. It was a gig at a freshers bar down the road. One thing I had learnt in my years of friendship with "B", there was no point in arguing with her as she always got her own way. B is a lot more sociable than I am, and the thought of being crammed into a dirty uni bar already has me crippled with anxiety.
"It'll be fucking great, just try this on" Bethany swings the bathroom door open and hands me a navy lace body suit.
"What's wrong with what I'm already wearing" I ask  as I stand in my jeans and an oversized lilac hoody.
She rolls her eyes at me and sighs before saying, "maybe for one night, you could pretend you aren't some holier than thou virgin and get a little bit of skin on show." As well as being more sociable, B was a lot more confident when it came to men than I was.
I roll my eyes back and disappear behind the bathroom door without saying anything, I pull the hoody over my head and toss it in the corner before sliding the lace top over my head and down my body before sealing the buttons under my bum. As  I look into the mirror, I see that the top has left my nipples ever so slightly exposed. I sigh to myself and already know that my argument about not wearing it will go unnoticed so I walk out and grab the leather jacket in an attempt to cover up.
I pick up my bottle of beer and drink what's left of it before heading out the door. It gives me the courage I didn't know I'd need, the courage for later on, when it was just me and him, a stranger whose name I don't even know yet.

I'm already uncomfortable, the smell of stale alcohol and cheap aftershave is tickling at my nose. I've done my bit, I've seen the first half of the gig. B is already surrounded by a group of men, two of which I recognize from our English class.
She's only about ten feet away from me, so I make an attempt to push through the crowd to tell her I'm leaving.

I feel cold liquid all over my chest, I look down and all I can hear are apologies, repeated apologies. I keep my head down and mumble, "it's fine, don't worry."
"Let me get you a drink, as an apology." The words echo in my ear as I feel his breath across my cheek, I look up and can see him towering over me. He laughs slightly, his smile ever so crooked, exposing his perfect teeth. His eyes aren't leaving mine as I'm suddenly aware of the mirrored gaze.
"Honestly, I was just leaving" I reply to him, feeling my skin warm all over, "I was just about to tell my friend I was heading home." I point toward B who is throwing her head back with laughter at something one of the surrounding men had probably just told her.
His fingers touch mine slightly, causing my skin to prick with goosebumps immediately. "Come with me, I'll let her know I'm walking you home." He pulls at my hand and helps me through the crowd until we reach Bethany.
"I'm heading home, erm" I point to the man standing next to me, suddenly aware I don't even know his name. He holds out a hand to Bethany, "Cole" he laughs as he looks over at me, "I'll make sure she gets back safe" he tells B, her eyes flick over to me and she smirks.
"I have her location on my phone, so I'll know if you take her elsewhere" B laughs, then turns back to the conversation she was involved in.
"Do I have to play the guessing game for your name?" He giggles as he can see the redness wash over me.
"It's Violet" I mumble back.